Quorum / Adjournment of the House

Determination of quorum

Journals pp. 1329-30

Debates pp. 11092-3

Background

During the hour for Private Members' Business, Mr. Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre) rose on a point of order to draw the attention of the Acting Speaker (Mr. Bechard) to the lack of a quorum, whereupon an oral count of the House found a quorum lacking. However, after the subsequent recording of the names of those present revealed a quorum, Mr. Knowles raised a further point of order to the effect that as the original count was valid, the House must stand adjourned. The Speaker, having resumed the Chair, heard arguments on the point of order before ruling.

Issue

Is the determination of a quorum based on the original count of the House, or on the number of names entered in the record?

Decision

 The number of Members in the House at the original count determines if a quorum is present. [Accordingly, the House adjourned.]

Reasons given by the Speaker

An exact determination was made difficult by the fact that several Members entered and left the Chamber during the original count, which indicated the presence of fewer than 20 Members. Although more than 20 Members' names were subsequently included in the record, the original count, not the subsequent record, is decisive.

Sources cited

Beauchesne, 4th ed., p. 48, c. 60(1).

References

Debates, July 10, 1969, pp. 11089-92.